Soil Nitrogen

AUS-AKW-FOR-SON General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 500 to 600 mg/kg
Optimal Range: 500 to 600
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

The recommended proxy value of 500 - 600 mg/kg is derived from measurements of total nitrogen in the topsoil of calcareous earths in Mungo National Park, a well-documented analogue site.

Metric Definition:

Total nitrogen in the A horizons (topsoils) of calcareous soils

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the natural range of total nitrogen in the topsoil of calcareous soils within the Arid Karstic Woodlands biome, based on a high-integrity analogue site at Mungo National Park.

Justification:

Production Forestry is not a viable land use in this biome; therefore, the best available condition is represented by the soil nitrogen levels found in a minimally disturbed natural ecosystem.

Sources (1)

Preview of Bryophytes on the calcareous soils of Mungo National Park, an arid area of southern central Australia - BYU ScholarsArchive, accessed July 25, 2025,
Bryophytes on the calcareous soils of Mungo National Park, an arid area of southern central Australia - BYU ScholarsArchive, accessed July 25, 2025, GreyLiterature

Bryophytes on the calcareous soils of Mungo National Park, an arid area of southern central Australia - BYU ScholarsArchive, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (15)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A soil moisture monitoring network to characterize karstic recharge and evapotranspiration at five representative sites across the globe - GI, accessed July 25, 2025,
A soil moisture monitoring network to characterize karstic recharge and evapotranspiration at five representative sites across the globe - GI, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

A soil moisture monitoring network to characterize karstic recharge and evapotranspiration at five representative sites across the globe - GI, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of ARID LANDS OF AUSTRALIA - Open Research Repository, accessed July 15, 2025,
ARID LANDS OF AUSTRALIA - Open Research Repository, accessed July 15, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

BioMetric: Vegetation condition benchmarks, short-term review

View Source
Preview of AUSTRALIA'S STATE OF THE FORESTS REPORT - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,
AUSTRALIA'S STATE OF THE FORESTS REPORT - DAFF, accessed July 12, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Final report Advice on finalising Draft Private Native Forestry Codes of Practice March 2022

View Source
Preview of Climate change and Australian production forests: impacts and adaptation - PNG Data Portal, accessed July 25, 2025,
Climate change and Australian production forests: impacts and adaptation - PNG Data Portal, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Climate change and Australian production forests: impacts and adaptation - PNG Data Portal, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Climate change and Australian production forests: impacts and adaptation - PNG Data Portal, accessed May 15, 2025
Climate change and Australian production forests: impacts and adaptation - PNG Data Portal, accessed May 15, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Australia's State of the Forests Report, accessed May 15, 2025

View Source
Preview of Description of Ecological Communities: Arid Eucalypt Woodlands - NEC 1.8 to 1.13 - DCCEEW, accessed July 23, 2025
Description of Ecological Communities: Arid Eucalypt Woodlands - NEC 1.8 to 1.13 - DCCEEW, accessed July 23, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Description of Ecological Communities: Arid Eucalypt Woodlands - NEC 1.8 to 1.13 - DCCEEW

View Source
Preview of Karst - Minnesota Stormwater Manual, accessed July 25, 2025,
Karst - Minnesota Stormwater Manual, accessed July 25, 2025,
Irrelevant

Karst - Minnesota Stormwater Manual, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Karst and agriculture in Australia - Digital Commons @ USF, accessed July 25, 2025,
Karst and agriculture in Australia - Digital Commons @ USF, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Trampling of microphytic crusts on calcareous soils, and its impact on erosion under rain-impacted flow - Arid Ecology Lab, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Karst features and remnant dune systems on the Nullarbor Plain, Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Karst features and remnant dune systems on the Nullarbor Plain, Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Karst features and remnant dune systems on the Nullarbor Plain, Australia, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Mapping and describing your natural resources - MBFP-Pastoral, accessed August 10, 2025
Mapping and describing your natural resources - MBFP-Pastoral, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

soils and landscapes of mulga lands with special reference to south western queensland, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of North Star Landform and Soil Report Environment - EPA WA, accessed July 25, 2025,
North Star Landform and Soil Report Environment - EPA WA, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

North Star Landform and Soil Report Environment - EPA WA, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of soils and soil landscapes of the study area - Cameco Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,
soils and soil landscapes of the study area - Cameco Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Land use in Australia at a glance, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source
Preview of Unasylva - No. 135 - Forestry in arid zones - Forestry in a sandy world, accessed July 25, 2025,
Unasylva - No. 135 - Forestry in arid zones - Forestry in a sandy world, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Unasylva - No. 135 - Forestry in arid zones - Forestry in a sandy world, accessed July 25, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 26 May 2026

Notes

The optimal range is considered synonymous with this natural reference benchmark. An upper threshold is not relevant for toxicity; rather, anomalously high nitrogen levels indicate a degraded state from external pollution or invasive species.